Economy

Following a challenging 2016, when the price of Brent Crude dipped briefly below $30 per barrel and governments across the GCC were compelled to significantly adjust their fiscal plans, 2017 has brought the region some respite – both to current accounts and the wider economy.

On August 9, 2017 Qatar announced a programme that grants visa-free entry to citizens of 80 countries, allowing nationals of 33 of those nations to stay for 180 days and those from the remaining 47 countries to stay for up to 30 days. The list includes India, Turkey, most of Europe, China, the US, Canada, South Africa and Indonesia. In early...

Since gaining independence in 1971 Qatar has quickly risen to prominence both regionally and internationally to become an economic, political and cultural powerhouse in the Middle East. With a relatively small local population and substantial revenues generated from having the third-largest proven natural gas reserves globally, Qatar has one...

Like many of its GCC neighbours, Qatar has implemented an overarching, long-term strategy that provides a set of development objectives, known as Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030). Organised around four main pillars – human, social, economic and environmental development – the stated goal of QNV 2030 is to transform the country into an “...

Economic affairs remain a matter of prime concern for us, especially in light of the circumstances created by the sharp decline in hydrocarbons prices; however, we are determined to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves in the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030). New realities are emerging in the global energy industry as a result...

After long-term struggles to meet tax collection targets, the government rolled out a bold tax amnesty initiative in 2016. The programme – eliminating criminal prosecution and large back tax bills, and offering lower tax rates on hidden assets – has been successful, as trillions of rupiahs of onshore and offshore assets and income have been...